Egg processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Egg processing apparatus wherein eggs are conveyed from an egg loading station through a washer apparatus to and through an egg accumulation device to a plurality of egg processing machines, such as egg breaking machines, which are each subject to temporary interruption of their operation from time to time. The apparatus includes means for regulating the accumulation of eggs by the accumulation device and means for controlling the movement of the conveyor that conveys the eggs to the accumulation device so that eggs may be delivered to any operative egg processing machine during such times one or more of the other egg processing machines is inoperative.

United States Patent Rose et al.

[ EGG PROCESSING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka [75]Inventors: Boyd W. Rose; George W. Thornton, Attorney-F Anderson et bothof Riverside, Calif. [73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif.[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed. Man 13 1972 Egg processing apparatus whereineggs are conveyed from an e g loading station throu h a washer a aratus8 g PP [21] Appl. No.: 234,001 to and through an egg accumulation deviceto a plurality of egg processing machines, such as egg breaking I [52]US. CL I 198/76 222/56 machines, which are each subject to temporaryinter- [51] mt CL. B65g 37/00 ruption of their operation from time totime. The appa- [58] Field of DIG l9 ratus includes means for regulatingthe accumulation of v eggs by the accumulation device and means forcontrolling the movement of the conveyor that conveys the l 56]References Cited eggs to the accumulation device so that eggs may bedelivered to any operative egg processing machine during 2 745 537 gi ij PATENTS 8/37 X such times one or more of the other egg processing max95 I a 19 erativ v 3,279,423 10/1966 Russell;..... 198/37 X c mes ls l pe a 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Me 7.40. is;

\8 i I89 M Z2 sw-z 18 286 100 10a.

ea 99 as is 42 M 54 t 45 so i Patented Sept. 18,1973 3,759,368

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 28b FIG; 3

sit-i180.

Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,368

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 18, 1973 v 3,759,368

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I3 IE] FLAT WASHER CONTROL CIRCUIT SW-S sw-| T SW 6sw-z TP M2. o-z AWL.

ML vv/ Pafen-tecl Sept. 18, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,mn mihql 1 EGGPROCESSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention pertains in general to egg processingequipment and more particularly to egg processing equipment forconveying eggs to and through an egg accumulation device so that eggsmay be conveyed to a plurality of egg processing machines, such as eggbreaking machines, which may individually become inoperative from timeto time.

2. Description of the Prior Art The various kinds of equipment currentlyused for washing and breaking eggs are such that the amount of manuallabor involved in the operation is rather expensive. In one particularplant installation containing equipment for washing and breaking eggs,the egg Washing apparatus and the egg breaking apparatus have beenseparate and unconnected pieces of equipment and have been somewahtuneconomical to operate primarily because of the number of operatorsnecessary for each piece of equipment. Thus, for example, in theoperation of said installation it was the practice to have a firstoperator place flats of eggs onto the infeed conveyor of an egg washingapparatus wherein the eggs were washed whileretained on the flats and tohave a second operator remove the flats of washed eggs from the eggwasher apparatus and transport the flats with eggs to one or moreapparatus for breaking the eggs. The eggs on the flats were thenmanually removed from the flats by the use of a portable, hand operated,vacuum egg lifter and placed onto the infeed trays of eachegg breakingapparatus. The eggs placed on each infeed tray were then conveyed on asystem of conveyors and ultimately conveyed in single file on a singlelane conveyor to the rotatable carrousel of an egg breaking apparatuswhich carrousel is provided with devices that held the egg shells asthey were cracked. The contents of each cracked egg were then depositedin the cupsof another rotatable carrousel which transported them to apoint where they were ultimately collected. In addition to the operatorsalready mentioned, other operators are employed to supervise and controlthe operation of each egg cracking apparatus. For the sake of economyand efficiency it is desirable to reduce the Bitpense of operatingthistype of equipmentby reducing the amount of human labor required tooperate it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides egg processingequipmerit adapted to convey eggs to a plurality of simultaneouslyoperable egg processing machines.

The present invention more particularly provides equipment that may beused to convey eggs to a plural? ity of simultaneously operable eggprocessing machines, such as egg breaking machines, by conveying eggsfrom an egg source through an egg accumulation device to respectiveconveyors adapted to convey eggs to such egg processing machines.

An advantage obtained by the use of the present invention is that it ispossible to bring the operation of one or more of several egg processingmachines to a temporary stop without also necessarily halting themovement of all of the conveyors that are utilized to convey eggs to themachines. Another advantage obtained by the use of the present inventionis that it is possible to continue the operation of some of the eggprocessing machines when one or more of the machines is renderedinoperative;

The abovenoted advantages of the present invention are attained by theuse of an egg accumulation device, which, in accordance with theteachings of the present invention, may be arranged between an eggwasher apparatus and various egg breaking machines that are utilized ina specific application of the present invention. This device accumulateseggs conveyed thereto and distributes the accumulated eggs to conveyors,such as the conveyors that are utilized to convey eggs to egg breakingmachines. These conveyors may be operative or inoperative at variousundetermined times. The advantages of the present invention are furtherachieved by the use of an apparatus control means associated with theegg accumulation device for controlling the movement of the conveyorthat conveys eggs to the device and correlating this movement with themovement of the various conveyors that convey eggs from the eggaccumulation device.

The equipment provided by the present invention includes a conveyorsystem for conveying eggs to and through the egg accumulation device insuch a way that the stoppage of movement of the various conveyorsarranged to convey eggs from the device will not neces-. sarily requirestoppage of the movementof the conveyor arranged to convey eggs to the Idevice. The equipment includes means for slowing or stopping themovement of the conveyor for conveying eggs to the devicein accordancewith the extent of egg accumulation by the device at any particulartime. In accordance with the present invention the means foraccomplishing this desired result includes a switch means associated.

with the device for sensing certain predetermined accumulations ofapproximate numbers of eggs at the time when such accumulations occur soas to cause either temporary reduction in speed of movement or temporarystoppage of movement of the conveyor utilized to deliver eggs to thedevice.

,It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide eggprocessing equipment or apparatus adapted to convey eggs from a sourceof eggs to and through an egg accumulation device to a plurality of Iegg processing machines, such as egg breaking machines, which are eachsubject to operation stoppage from time to time. v

It is another object of the presentinvention to provide the apparatus ofthe kinddescribed hereinwith an apparatus control means associated withan egg accumulation device and operable to automatically regulate thespeed of movement of the conveyor transporting eggs to the device inrelation to the occasionally interruptedmovement of conveyorstransporting eggs from the device to various egg processing machines.

It is another'object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswherein the accumulation of eggs by an egg accumulation device isregulated so that the device will accumulate or store an accumulation ofeggs sufficient to provide a continual supply of eggs to a plurality ofegg processing machines that may be connected by. conveyors to thedevice;

The above and other objects of the present invention, as well asadvantages and features of the invention, will be made more clear uponreview of the following discussion of an embodiment of the presentinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan of anegg processing system which utilizes the apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the system shown in FIG; 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2particularly illustrating the switch means suspended over the deck ofthe egg accumulation apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2particularly illustrating the delivery of eggs from the infeed conveyorto the inlet of the egg accumulation apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2 andparticularly illustrating the delivery of eggs from the outlet of theegg accumulation apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the power circuitry for theapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the control circuitry for theapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a figure that schematically illustrates the way in which theconveyors of the egg processing system of FIG. 1 can be motor driven.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan ofan egg processing system which embodies the present invention. Thesystem includes conveyors for moving eggs to a plurality of egg breakingmachines. The system includes a work station where an operator 0 removesflats of eggs from field cases situated on a shelf 12 and places theflats on an infeed conveyor 14. The infeed conveyor 14 moves the eggloaded flatsin index fashion to an egg transfer mechanism 16 where themechanism transfers the eggs from the flats onto a roller conveyor 18.The conveyor 14 moves the empty flats into a flat washer apparatus FW.

The conveyor 18 carries the eggs which have been transferred from thetransfer mechanism 16 through an egg washer apparatus 20. Eggs aretransported six abreast on the conveyor 18 through the apparatus 20 to asix lane ramp 22. The ramp 22 feeds six lanes of .eggs to a triple laneconveyor 24. Each lane of the conveyor 24 receives eggs from tworespective lanes of the ramp 22 (see FIG. 4). Each conveyor lane ofconveyor 24 carries a lane of eggs in single file to an egg feedout ramp26 which feeds the eggs to a roller conveyor 28 and distributes themevenly thereacross. Eggs are transported three abreast on the conveyor28.

The conveyor 28 carries the eggs up an inclined path to the inlet of anegg accumulation device 30. The device 30 includes three outlets. Eggsthat have been carried to the device inlet are moved to the deviceoutlets in a manner to be later'described. The device 30 includes a rampinlet 32 and three ramp outlets 34, 36 and 38. The ramp outlet 34 feedstwo lanes of eggs to a roller conveyor 40, the ramp outlet 36 feeds twolanes of eggs to a roller conveyor 42, and the ramp outlet 38 feeds twolanes of eggs to a roller conveyor 44. Eggs are therefore carried twoabreast by each of the conveyors 40, 42 and 44. The conveyor 40 carrieseggs to a single lane conveyor 48, the conveyor 42 carries eggs to asingle lane conveyor 50, and the single lane conveyor 44 carries eggs toa single lane conveyor 52. The conveyor 48 carries a lane of eggs insingle file to a conveyor 54 of an egg breaking machine 60, the conveyor50 carries a lane of eggs in single file to a conveyor 56 of an eggbreaking machine 62, and the conveyor 52 carries a lane of eggs insinglefile to a conveyor 58 of an egg breaking machine 64. Each conveyor54, 56 and 58 carries a lane of eggs in single file to the egg breakingmachine to which it is connected.

The machines 60, 62 and 64 can be purchased from Sanovo Incorporated, 10East 40th St., New York, NY. The machines are identical. Each machine isidentified asa SANOVO fully automatic Egg Breaking and SeparatingMachine, Model 40. This model can be operated to break 7,200 to 8,400eggs per hour when operated so as to break eggs and separate egg yolksfrom egg whites. This model can also be operated to break 8,000 to10,000 eggs per hour when used to break eggs without separating the eggyolks from the egg whites.

The flatwasher FW is similar to the flatwasher illustrated in Rose et alUS. Pat. No. 3,583,414. The conveyor 14, the transfer mechanism 16, theconveyor 18, and the washer apparatus 20 are similar to like componentsillustrated in Rose U.S.-Pat. No. 3,252,607.

The accumulation device 30 (FIG. 2) includes a horizontal deck on-whicheggs may gather. Side panels 70a disposed on opposite sides of the deck70 are provided to confine eggs on the deck. The accumulation deviceincludes a slat conveyor with spaced slats 72 for moving eggs away fromthe ramp inlet 32 toward the ramp outlets 34, 36 and 38. Each slat 72moves over the deck surface to push, roll and slide eggs toward the rampoutlets. Each slat is able to pass under eggs gathered on the deck 70near the-ramp outletsif thev eggs are stopped and prevented from movingover the ramp outlets. v

The slats 72 are each connected to two endless link chain belts 74 (SeeFIGS. 5 and 6), situated under the side panels 70a, that move to carrythe slats across the deck from the end of the deck near the ramp inlet32 to the end of the deck near the ramp outlets 34, 36 and 38. Therespective slats are connected at opposite ends thereof to respectivelinks 76 of each link chain belt 74. The system includes an apparatuscontrol mechanism for controlling theextent of egg accumulation on thedeck 70 during operation of the system. The number of eggs gathered oraccumulated at any time on the deck 70 during the system operationdepends on the rate of egg delivery through the ramp inlet 32 to thedeck 70 82 suspended above the deck 70 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2and 3. Each paddle 80, 82 is rigidly attached to an arm that isconnected'to the pivotable actuating arm of a respective limit switchSW1, SW-2. Each paddle 80, 82 is typically about three times as wide asan egg is long. The paddles 80, 82 are suspended from the switches SW-l,SW-2 so that each paddle is disposed at an angle to the deck as shown inFIG. 3. The sides of the paddles that face toward the deck also facetoward the end of the deck where the ramp inlet 32 is located. Thevertical distance between the lower edge of each paddle and theunderlying deck surface is less than the width of an egg. Thus, some ofthe eggs on the deck moving away from the ramp inlet will move intocontact with a paddle as the eggs are moved toward the ramp outlets. Thepaddles are attached to pivotable arms and therefore can be pushed awayfrom the deck by eggs passing under the paddles. Each time the paddle 80or the paddle 82 is pushed upward, the arm to which the paddle isattached pivots to close the associated switch SW-l or SW-2. Theswitches SW-l and SW-2 are connected in a motor control circuit which isswitch controlled to determine the speed-of movement of the conveyors14, 18, 24 and 28 in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

Eggs can pass under the paddles 80, 82 in about a second. Each time anegg moves under a paddle to push the paddle upward and pivot the paddlesupporting arm upward, the switch (SW-1 or SW-2) connected to the paddlecloses and remains closed until the egg moves beyond the paddle towardthe ramp outlets. As soon as an egg moves beyond a paddle and out ofcontact therewith, the paddle supporting arm can pivot downward tothereby reopen the switch connected there with. As will be explained,the actuation of the paddles to close the switches SW-l orySW-2 will notresult in an alteration in the speed of movement of the conveyors 14,18, 24 and 28 unless the paddles are actuated for a minimum timeinterval which is greater than the time it normally takes for an'egg tomove into and out of contact with the paddles.

The switches SW-1 andSW-2 are both supported on top of a horizontalplate 88 secured to the underside of a rail 90 that extends along thelength of the deck 70. The rail 90 is secured at one end to a horizontalbar 92 and at its other end to the top of a vertical post 94 so that therail is disposed above the deck as shown in FIG. 3. The bar 92 issecured to the side panels 70a at the inlet-end of the accumulatordevice.

As shown in FIG. 2, the accumulator device 30 includes at its downstreamend vertical divider walls 96, 98 made of sheet metal. These dividerwalls are secured to a horizontal bar 99 that is secured to the sidepanels 70a. The divider walls 96, 98 are situated over respectiveportions of the deck so that the slats 72 can move under the dividerwalls (FIG. 6) .and return under the deck to the end of the deckwhere'the ramp 'inlet'is located. The divider walls 96, 98 serve toguide eggs to the ramp outlets 34, 36 and 38. The bar 99 and dividerwalls '96, 98 are shown and described as being stationary members buthis possible to secure such divider walls to a pivoted wall oscillatingmechanism, not shown, for oscillating the walls in a horizontal plane inorder to facilitate the movement of eggs to the ramp outlets 34, 36 and38. When such a mechanism is utilized the walls 96, 98 areoscillated-back and forth in small movements toward the side panels 700.

The triple lane conveyor 24 includes side panels 24a (FIG. 4) and threepairs of endlessrubber belts 100, 102 and 104 for carrying eggs from theramp 22 to'the ramp 26. The belts 100, 102 and 104, as shown in FIG. 4,are of circular cross section. The belts are trained at their upstreamends around three pulleys 106, 108 and 110 that are secured to arotatable shaft 112. The shaft 112 is supported by the side panels 24ain such a way that it can rotate. The belts 100, 102 and 104 extend fromthe pulleys 106, 108 and 110 to three similar pulleys located adjacentto the ramp 26. The pulleys near the ramp 26 are secured to a rotatableshaft, similar to the shaft 112, which is supportedlin such a way thatit can rotate.

The roller conveyor 18 includes two lateraily spaced endless link chainbelts which support the rollers of the conveyor. The chain belts aretrained around. respective sprockets on rotatable shafts at oppositeends'of the conveyor 18. The conveyor 18 has rollers 180 that arecontoured to define six egg receiving pockets between each pair ofadjacent rollers. Each roller 18a includes, as shown in-FIG. 4, a metalshaft 18b and a contoured plastic tubular sleeve 18c. Each plasticsleeve 18c includes six sleeve portions of reduced diameter whichcooperate with similar portions on the adjacent rollers of the conveyor18 to define the aforementioned egg receiving pockets. The rollers 180all are rotated in the same direction as they are moved by theaforementioned chain belts toward the ramp 22. The rollers are rotatedby providing two flat rods, not shown, beneath the upper run of therollers 18a. These rods are disposed below the opposite ends of eachroller sleeve 18c in the upper run of the conveyor 18. The sleeves 18crollalong the length of the rods as the rollers move away from the shaftmounted sprockets at theend of the conveyor near the fllatwasher FWtoward the shaft mounted sprockets disposed at the end of the conveyornear the ramp 22. The rotation of the rollers 18a causes eggs disposedin the pockets between the rollers to rotate as the eggs travel throughthe egg washer 20 so that the eggs may be thoroughly washed, brushed,and dried before reaching the ramp 22.

The transfermechanism 16, shown in FIG. 1, deposits eggs ,into thepockets formed by the rollers 18a. The rollers 18a are moved by thechain belts 114 to carry the eggs to the end 'of the convey-or 18 nearthe ramp 22. As each roller completes its upper run movement, itdeposits six eggs ontothe "ramp 22 and continues around the sprockets118 to begin itslower run movement toward the sprockets at the otherconveyor end. The ramp 22 discharges eggs two at a time into each 'laneof the. conveyor 24. The eggs discharged to the lanes of the conveyorrest on the belts, as shown in FIG. 4, for transport by the belts to theramp 26. Due to the manner in which the eggs are delivered to the belts100,

102 and 104 the eggsin each lane of eggs moving from the ramp 22 areuniformly spaced.

The belts 100, 102 and104 carry three lanes of eggs to the ramp 26 wherethe eggs are moved from the belts onto the ramp. The eggs move over-theramp from the discharge end of the conveyor 24 to the rollers of theconveyor 28.-

The conveyor 28, which is similar to the conveyor 18, includes rollers28a (FIG. 5) with contoured tubular sleeves that define three eggreceiving pockets between adjacent rollers 28a. The rollers 2 8a carryeggs, three abreast, from the ramp 26 to the ramp inlet 32 for theaccumulator device 30.,When the eggs reach the ramp inlet 32 they movefrom the rollers 280 over the ramp 32 and onto the deck of theaccumulator device 30. The rollers 28a are connected between two opposedendless link chain belts 126 that are trained around sprockets 128 onrespective rotatable shafts 129 at the respective ends of the conveyor28, with one such chain belt and shaft only being shown in FIG. 5. Theconveyor 28 includes side panels 28b (see FIGS. 1 and 5). A flat rod 136is attached to the inside of each side panel 28b by brackets 138 (FIG.5). The rods 136 are disposed below the opposite ends of each roller 28ain The upper run of the conveyor 28. The rollers 28a roll along thelength of each rod 136 as the rollers move toward the ramp inlet 32. Therotation of the rollers 28a causes eggs disposed in the pockets betweenthe rollers to rotate as the eggs travel toward the ramp inlet 32.

As is seen in FIG. 5, the deck 70 includes a metal plate which iscovered with a plastic sheet to provide a smooth and somewhat resilientsurface upon which the eggs can roll. The deck 70 is supported onlongitudinally extending channelbeams 130 disposed on a support frameincluding a plurality of horizontal members 132 and a plurality ofvertical members 134 (one pair of members 132 and 134 only being shownin FIG. The side panels 70a of the accumulator device 30 are disposedabove the upper runs of the chain belts 74 of the device. A portion ofone of the side panels 70a can be cut out, as shown in FIG. 5, toprovide an opening in which the ramp inlet 32 is disposed. The rampinlet 32 can be supported on one of the horizontal members 132 by abracket l40 that secures the ramp inlet at an elevation so that eggsgravitate thereon from conveyor 28 without dropping over too great adistance. The shaft 129 shown in FIG. 5 can be supported by the sidepanels 28b so that the shaft can rotate to turn each sprocket 128. Thetwo endless chain belts 74 which carry the slats 72 are supported byconventional sprockets 144 (one only being shown in FIG. 6) and areadpated to be driven at their downstream ends by a drive shaft 146.

FIG. 6 illustrates how eggs are moved from the deck 70 by the slats 72to the outlets of the accumulator device 30 and illustrates, inparticular, how eggs are moved from the deck 70 over the ramp outlet 34to the conveyor 40. The ramp outlet 34 is disposed as shown in FIG. 6 bysuitable support means (not-shown). The divider walls 96, 98 (see FIGS.2 and 6) guide eggs on the deck 70 to the ramp outlets 34, 36 and 38 andare spaced from-each other and from the side panels 70a so that eggs arefed two at a time to each of the conveyors 40, 42 and44. Eggs brought tothe ramp outlet 34, for example, move two at a time over the ramp outlet34 and onto the conveyor 40 as the slats 72 travel under the dividerwalls 96, 98. The conveyors 40, 42

and 44 include rollers 40a, 42a and 44a (see FIG. 2)v with sleeves thatare contoured to define two egg receiving pockets betweenadjacentrollers. The conveyors 40, 42 and 44 are similar to each otherand similar to the conveyor 28. The rollers 40a ofthe conveyor 40 areinterconnected between two link chain bolts 148 that are trained aboutsprockets 150 on rotatable shafts 152 supported at respective ends ofthe conveyor 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 6. The conveyor40 includesside panels 40b disposed above the link belts 148. The rollers 42a ofthe conveyor 42 and the rollers 44a of the conveyor 44 areinterconnected between two link chain belts similar to the chain belts148. The chain belts of the conveyors 42 and 44 are trained aboutsprockets on rotatable shafts at respective ends of the conveyors 42 and44 in the same manner as the chain belts 148 of the conveyor 40 aretrained about the sprockets 150 on a shaft 152. The conveyors 42 and 44include side panels 42b and 44b (see FIG. 2) similar to the side panels40b.

The conveyor 40 includes two flat rods 154 secured by brackets 156 tothe inside of the respective side panels 40b. The rods 154 are disposedbelow the opposite ends of each roller 40a in the upper run of theconveyor 40. The rollers 40a roll along the length of each rod as therollers move toward the conveyor 48. The rollers 40a thereby cause eggsdisposed in the pockets between the rollers to rotate as the eggs traveltoward the conveyor 48. The conveyors 42 and 44 include similar rodsover which the rollers 42a and 44a roll to rotate eggs traveling on theconveyors 42 and 44 to the conveyors 50 and 52, respectively.

The conveyors 48, 50 and 52 are, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, similar toeach other and are each comprised of single lane conveyors similar tothe single lane conveyors comprising conveyor 24. Each conveyor 48, 50and 52 includes a pair of endless rubber belts 160, 162 and 164,respectively, which are circular in cross section. The belts of eachconveyor 48, 50 and 52 carry a single lane of eggs in single file to therespective conveyors 54, 56 and 58 in the same way that the belts 100,102 or 104 carry a single lane of eggs in single file to the ramp 26.The belts of each conveyor 48, 50 and 52 are trained around respectivepulleys on respective rotatable shafts disposedat opposite ends of eachsuch conveyor. The conveyor 48'includes sheet metal panels 48a, theconveyor 50 includes sheet metal panels 50a and the conveyor 52 includessheet metal panels 52a, as indicated in FIG. 2, to prevent eggs frommoving off of the belts, The panels 48aare arranged above opposite sidesof the belts 160, the panels 50a are arranged above opposite sides ofthe belts 162 and the panels 520 are arranged above opposite sides ofthe belts 164. Thepanels 48a, 50a and 52a respectively slant down=wardly and inwardly toward the'respective belts 160, 162 and 164 to formrespective sheet metal troughs through which the belts 160, 162 and 164carry eggs to' the respective conveyors 54, 56 and 58 of the eggbreaking machines. A portion of one of the panels 48a is cut out, asindicated in FIG. 2, to provide an opening through which eggs comingfrom the conveyor 40 can pass. Similarly, a portion of one of the panels500 and a portion of one of the panels 52a is cut out,as indicated inFIG. 2, to provide respective openings through which eggs coming fromthe conveyors 42 and 44 can pass. Eggs carried by the rubber belts 162are directed to the feed-in end of the egg breaking machine .conveyor 56by a diverter strip 169 shown in FIG. 2. Eggs carried by the rubberbelts1160 and 164 are similarly directed to their respective eggbreaking machine conveyors by diverter strips (not shown) similar to thediverter strip 170. I

The egg breaking machine conveyors 54, 56 and 58, which arediagrammatically shown in FIG. 1', are similar in construction to theconveyor 18 except that they are each designed to carry only a singlelane of eggs. Each of the conveyors 54, 56 and 58 includes two laterallyspaced endless link chain belts which support rollers. The chain beltsof each'of these conveyors are trained around respective sprockets onrotatable shafts at opposite ends of the respective conveyors. Eachconveyor 54, 56 and 58 has rollers with tubular sleeves that arecontoured to define one egg receiving pocket between adjacent rollers.As is indicated in FIG. 2, the conveyor 56 includes side panels 56adisposed above the chain belts of the conveyor 56 and rollers 56bdefining an egg receiving pocket between each pair of adjacent rollers.The conveyors 54 and 58 similarly include side panels disposed above thechain belts thereof and also include rollers defining an egg receivingpocket between each pair of adjacent rollers. The conveyors 48, 50 and52, respectively, can deliver an egg into each egg receiving pocket ofthe associated respective conveyors 54, 56 and 58,,and the respectivespeeds of the conveyors are such that each pocket in the conveyors 54,56 and 58 will receive an eg if the delivery of eggs from conveyors 40,42' and 44 is maintained.

The egg processing system disclosed includes circuitry to operate theegg washer apparatus 20, the egg transfer mechanism 16, the slatconveyor of the egg accumulation device 30, and the various conveyors14, 18, 24 and 28. This circuitry is diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 7and 8.

FIG. 7 is an electrical diagram of an apparatus power circuit whichincludes motors MTR2, MTR3, MTR4 and MTRS and the flat washer circuitryFW-CKTRY. The various motors and-the flat washer circuitry are eachsupplied with power by three power lines which are energized by a 220volt, three phase, 60 cps power supply. Power circuit control relaycontacts M-2, CR-S, CR-6, and CR-7 are connected in respective powerbranch lines to control theoperation of the motors MTRZ MTRS.

The apparatus control system shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8includes the following system components: a flat washer control circuitthat controls the operation of the flat washer apparatus FW; a relaycoil M2 that controls the relay contacts M2 (see FIG. 7); a time delayrelay coil TDl that controls a relay contact TD-l; a timedelay relaycoil TD2 that controls a relay contact TD-2; a relay coil CR thatcontrols relay contacts CR-5 (see FIG. 7); a detergent pumpDP; asolenoid coil SOL-1; a relay coil CR6 that controls relay contacts CR-6(see FIG. 7 a relay coil CR7 that con trols relay contacts CR-7 (seeFIG. 7 switch SW-l controlled by the paddle 80; switch SW-2 controlledby the paddle 82; an off-on switch SW-3 that controls the operation ofthe egg washer apparatus; an off-on switch SW-5; and an off-on switchSW-6.

The relay including the relay coil TDl and relay contacts TD-1 and therelay including the relay coil TD2 and relay contacts TD-2 are relayswhose respective relay contacts TD-l, TD-2 are normally closed and willopen only'after their respective relaycoils TDl, TD2 have beencontinuously energized for a predetermined time interval. Each of theserelays can be adjusted to set the desired time interval. In theoperation of the egg processing system disclosed, each relay is adjustedso that the coil thereof must be continuously energized for a timeinterval of about 5 seconds before the relay contacts TD-l or TD-2 willopen.

FIG. 9 illustrates, in schematic fashion, a particular arrangement fordriving the conveyors of the hereindescribed system. In FIG. 9 it can beseen that the motor MTR5 has a chain Bl rotatably secured to the motordrive shaft. The motor drive shaft is coupled to a power transmissionunit A have an output drive shaft and a bevel gear Gl secured thereto.The transmission unit A converts continuous rotation-of the output shaftof the motor MTRS into intermittent rotation of the output drive shaftof the unit -A. The bevel gear G] meshes with a bevel gear G2 on adriveshaft 160 that drives the infeed conveyor 14 in intermittentmovements to index flats. of eggs to the transfer mechanism 16.

The chain B1 is coupled to a sprocket B4 on a trans-.

mission shaft C which has sprockets B5 and B6 mounted thereon. Thesprocket B5 is coupled by a chain to a sprocketB7 on the input shaft ofa gear reduction unit D which has an output shaft with a gear G9 mountedthereon. The gear G9 meshes with a gear G10 on a drive shaft having asprocket B8 thereon which sprocket is, in turn, coupled by a chain to asprocket B9 on the shaft 120 that drives conveyor 18. A sprocket B11 onthe output shaft of the unit D is coupled by a chain to a sprocket B12on the shaft 129 that drives the conveyor 28. The sprocket B6 is coupledby a chain to a sprocket B10 that drives the conveyor 24 through itsdrive shaft 112. v

In FIG. 9 it can further be seen that the motor MTRZ has a sprocket B13mounted on its drive shaft. The sprocket B13 is coupled by achain to asprocket B14 on the drive shaft 146 that drives the slat conveyor of theaccumulator device 30. A motor MTR6 (which is a part of the egg breakingmachine has a drive. shaft which drives the conveyor 48 from thedownstream end thereof and which is also provided with a bevel gear G3thereon. The bevel gear G3 meshes with a bevel gear G4 on a drive shaftthat has a sprocket B15 thereon. The sprocket B15 iscoupled by a. chaintoa sprocket B16 on a shaft E. The shaft E provides the driving powerfor the conveyor 54 and isalso provided with a sprocketBl7which iscoupled by a chain to a sprocket B18 of a drive shaft 170 at the upperend of the conveyor 40 for driving the chain belts 148.

A motor MTR7 (which isa part of the egg breaking machine 62) has a driveshaft with a bevel gear G5 and a sprocket B19 thereon. The bevel gear G5meshes with a bevel gear G6v on: a drive sahft that drives the belts ofthe conveyor 50. The sprocket B19 is coupled by a chain to a sprocketB20 on a drive shaft that drives the conveyor 56. The drive shaft havingthe sprocket B20 thereon also has a sprocket B 21 thereon which iscoupled by a chain to a sprocket B22 on a drive shaft 172 thatdrives thechains of the conveyor 42 from the upper end thereof.

A motor MTR8 (which is a part of the egg breaking machine 64) has adrive shaft with a bevel gear G7 and a sprocket B23 thereon which iscoupled by a chain to a sprocket B24 on a drive shaft F that drives theconveyor 58. The bevel gear G7 meshes with a bevel gear G8 on a driveshaft that drives the belts of the conveyor 52. The drive shaft F has asprocket B25 thereon which is coupled by a chain to a sprocket B26 on adrive shaft 174'that drives the chains of the conveyor 44 from the upperend thereof.

When the machine 60 is rendered inoperative, the

I motor MTR6 is rendered inoperative to thereby'halt the movement of theconveyors 40, 48 and 54. When the machine 62 is rendered. inoperative,the motor MTR7 is rendered imperative to thereby halt the movement ofthe conveyors 42, 50 and 56. When the machine 64 is renderedinoperative, the motor MTR8 is rendered inoperative to thereby haltthemovement of the'conveyors 44, 52 and 58. The motor MTR6, the motorMTR7 or the motor MTR8 can be made inoperative by operators who canactuate a switch mechanism to turn off the motor when it is desired tostop the operation of the associated machine 60, 62 or 64. The motorMTRZ can be rendered inoperative by opening the switch SW-6 shown inFIG. 8. i l

MODE OF OPERATION I An operator closes the switch SW-S to start theoperinto operation by closing contacts .M-2 to the motor MTR2..

When the switch SW is closed, the relay coils CR6 and CR7 are energizedso that the relay contacts CR-6 become closed and three normally closedrelay contacts CR-7 become open and three normally open relay contactsCR-7 become closed. Motor MTRS is provided with two separate windings,one winding being energized through the normally open contacts CR-7 andthe other winding being energized through the normally closed contactsCR-7, so that the speed of the motor can be varied. When the relaycontacts CR-6 are closed the motor MTRS operates at high speed (withpower provided through the normally open contacts CR-7) to drive theconveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28 which are each mechanically coupled to themotor MTRS and which serve to transport a continuous supply of eggs tothe accumulator device 30.

When the switch SW-6 isclosed the relay coil M2 is energized to closethe relay contacts M-2 so that the motor MTR2 is turned on. When themotor MT R2 is turned on it drives the chain belts 74 of the accumulatordevice 30 so that the slats 72 are moved across the deck 70 to push theeggs therealong.

When the switches SW-'5 and SW-3 are both closed the relay coil CR5, thedetergent pump DP, andthe solenoid coil SOL-l are energized. Theenergized relay coil CR5 closes the relay contacts CR5 to turn on themotor MTR3 and the motor MTR4. When the motor MTR3 is turned on water ispumped into the egg washer apparatus 20 in order to spary recirculatedwater onto the eggs moving through the egg washer apparatus on theroller conveyor 18. The motor MTR4 operates to rotate egg scrubbingbrushes, contoured to fit egg curvature, arranged within the apparatus20. The detergent pump DP pumps liquid detergent into the water whichsprays the eggs. The energized solenoid coil SOL-1 operates a hot waterrinse mechanism used'to spray rinse dirt from the eggs with freshunrecirculated water. i

The conveyors l4, 18, 24 and 28 are driven by the motor MTRS. The slatconveyor is driven by the motor MTR2. The conveyors 40, 48 and 54 aredriven by a motor MTR6 shown in FIG. 9, the conveyors 42, 50 and 56 aredriven by a motor MTR7 shown in FIG. 9, and the conveyors 44, 52 and 58are driven by a motor MTR8 shown in FIG. 9. The motors MTR6, MTR7 andMTR8 are inoperative when their associated egg breaking machines 60, 62and 64 are inoperative. If, for example, the egg breaking machine 60 isrendered inoperative the motor MTR6 that drives the conveyors 40, 48 and54'is rendered inoperative and the movement of these conveyorsis'halted.

Most of the time all the machines 60, 62 and 64 are operatingsimultaneously and the normally closed relay contacts TD-l and TD-2(FIG. 8) will be closed. When all of the machines 60, 62 and 64 are insimultaneous operation the conveyors 40, 48 and 54 operate to conveyeggs to the machine 60, the conveyors 42, 50 and 56 operate to conveyeggs to the machine 62, and the 12 conveyors 44, 52 and 58 operate toconvey eggs to the machine 64. Under these conditions the number of eggsleaving the accumulator device 30 is about the same asthe number of eggsentering the device and eggs will not be accumulated therein so as toactuate either of the limit switches SW-l or SW-2.

When any one of the machines 60, 62 or 64 is turned "off for a time thenumber of eggs gathered on the deck will increase. If the machine 60,for example, is turned off for a long enough time the eggs gathered onthe deck 70 can increase in number until they extend from the outletregion to or beyond the deck location beneath the paddle 80. When eggsextend back to or beyond this location any egg or eggs situated underthe paddle will hold the paddle 80 upward for an extended time interval.When the paddle 80 is held upward the switch SW-l is closed. The relaycoil TDl can thus be continuously energized for an interval in excess of5 seconds. When the relay coil TDl is so energized the relay contactTD-l opens, and the relay coil CR7 becomes deenergized.

When the coil CR7 is deenergized the relay contacts CR7 operate so thatthe three normally closed relay contacts CR-7 become closed and thethree normally open relay contacts CR-7 become open. This switches thepower to MTRS to the secondary winding. As a result, the speed of themotor MTRS reduces to low speed, a speed which is two-thirds of the highspeed of the motor MTRS, and the conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28, operatedby the motor MTRS, reduce their speed of movement to-two-thirds of theirregular high speed of movement. Thus, the rate of egg feed to the ramp32' inlet is reduced by one-third.

In the event that another egg breaking machine, say machine '62, isturned off while the machine 60 is turned off the number of eggsgathered on the deck 70 may increase until the eggs on the deck extendfrom the outlet region to or beyond the deck location under the paddle82. In this event, any egg or eggs situated under the paddle 82 willhold the paddle 82 upward for an extended time interval.

When the paddle 82 is held upward the switch SW-2 is closed. The relaycoil TD2 can thus be continuously energized for an interval in excess of5 seconds. When the relay coil TD2 is continuously energized for morethan 5 seconds the relay contact TD-2 opens and the relay coils CR5 andCR6 become deenergized to break the power circuit to the motors MTR3,MTR4 and MTRS. Also, when'the relay contact TD-2 is open the circuitpaths to the detergent pump DP and the solenoid coil SOL-1, areinterrupted. Due the opening of the relay contact TD-2, the motor 'MTRS,which has v The number of eggs gathered on the deck 70 can be decreasedduring the time that the switches SW-l and SW-2 are closed. During thistime eggs continue to be; conveyed from the device 30 to the machine 64which,

for example, may not have been turned off. After the,

number of eggs on the deck 70 has been decreased to a sufficient extent,the switch SW-2 will open to result in the resumption of low speedoperation of the infeed conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28,

Opening of the switch SW-2 occurs when the egg or eggs on the deck 70move out of contact with the paddle 82 and the paddle 82 pivotsdownward. When the paddle 82 pivots downward and the switch SW-2 opens,the relay coil CR5, the detergent pump DP, the solenoid coil SOL-1, andthe relay coil CR6 are again energized. Consequently, the motors MTR3,MTR4 and MTRS resume operation and the motor MTRS drives the conveyors14, 18, 24 and 28 at slow speed so long as switch SW-1 remains closed.

The conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28 operate at slow speed until the numberof eggs gathered on the deck 70 decreases until the egg or eggstouchingthe paddle 80 move from under the paddle so that it pivotsdownward to open the switch SW-l. The opening of the switch.

SW-l deenergizes the relay coil TDl thereby closing the relay contactTD-l. The closing'of the relay contact TD-l causes the normally openrelay contacts CR-7 to become closed and the normally closed relaycontacts CR-7 to become open so that the motor MTRS again drives theconveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28 at high speed.

It is possible to modify certain portions of the system withoutdeparting from the principles of the present invention. Thus, forexample, it is possible to utilize an egg accumulation device that has amotor driven endless conveyor belt to convey eggs from the inlet regionto the outlet region of the device and to utilize this belt in lieu ofthe slat conveyor to accomplish accumulation of eggs at the outletregion.

The paddles 80 and 82 in the above described system are respectivelyactuated to slow and then stop the movement of the conveyors 14, 18, 24and 28. The system can by modified, in a suitable fashion, to includeadditional paddles, similar to the paddles 80 and 82, which can beactuated to slow the movement of the conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28. Thus,for example, one additional paddle can be suspended over the deck 70 ata location between the paddles 80 and 82. This additional paddle may beactuated to slow the movement of the conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28 toone-third the regular high speed conveyor movement, for example, byproviding the drive motor MTRS with three separate stator windingsrather than just two. The additional paddle may be actuated before thepaddle 82 is actuated and after the paddle 80 is actuated. If this isdone, the conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28 can be moved at high speed, attwo-thirds of high speed, at one-third of high speed, or at zero speed.If the system is appropriately modified in the manner indicated it willbe possible to move the conveyors 14, 18, 24 and 28 at one-third of highspeed at times when two of the machines 60, 62 and 64 are inoperative.By operating the conveyors at one-third of high speed during such timesthe number of eggs conveyed to the accumulator device 30 during suchtimes will be about the same as the number of eggs conveyed from thedevice 30 to the particular machine which remains in operation.

, Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodification and variation may be made without departing from what isregarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

' 1. An apparatus adapted to convey eggs to a plurality of eggprocessing machines, the apparatus comprising an egg accumulation deviceproviding an egg accumulation area wherein eggs may accumulate; aconveyor system for transporting eggs from a source of eggs to and fromthe egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device, the conveyorsystem including first conveyor means for conveying eggs to the eggaccumulation area of said egg accumulation device, second conveyor meansfor conveying eggs through the egg accumulation area of the eggaccumulation device, and third conveyor means for conveying eggs fromthe egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device; the thirdconveyor means including a conveyor for conveying eggs to a first eggprocessing machine and including a separate conveyor for conveying eggsto a second egg processing machine; andcontrol means for controlling thefirst conveyor means so that it may be operated at either a first speedor a second speed, lower than the first speed, or so that it may behalted; said control means including means for operating said firstconveyor means at the second speed and including means for halting thefirst conveyor means; said means for operating said first conveyor meansatthe second speed being operable to change the speed of the firstconveyor means for the first speed to the second speed when the quantityof eggs accumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulationdevice increases to a first approximate number of eggs; said means forhalting the first conveyor means being operable to halt the firstconveyor means when it is operating at the second speed and when thequantity of eggs accumulated in the egg accumulation area of the eggaccumulation device increases to a second approximate number of eggsgreater in number than the first approximate number of eggs; said eggaccumulation device including an inlet to which eggs are conveyed bysaid first conveyor means and including outlets from which eggs arerespectively conveyed by the conveyors of said third conveyor means;said second conveyor means movingsaid eggs through said egg accumulationdevice in a gener ally straight line path, said first conveyor meansdelivering eggs to said accumulation device at one end thereof in adirection transverse to the direction of said path, and said thirdconveyor means directing the eggs in paths which are generally inalignment with said straight line path. g I i 2. The apparatus set.forth in claim 1 wherein said third conveyor means includes threeconveyors extending in parallel and having their inlet ends separated byguide means which diverge toward the conveyors of said third conveyormeans.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said second conveyor meanscomprises a series of spaced pusher members and a fixed deck over whicheggs are pushed by said pusher members and wherein said conveyors ofsaid third conveyor means comprised pocket roller conveyors.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said pocketed rollerconveyors of said third conveyor means are operated to elevate said eggsfrom said egg accumulation device. I

5. An apparatus adapted to convey eggsto a plurality of egg processingmachines, the apparatus comprising an egg accumulation device providingan egg accumulation area wherein eggs may accumulate; a. conveyor systemfor transporting eggs from a source of eggs to and from the eggaccumulation area of the egg accumulation device, the conveyor system.including first conveyor means forconveying eggs to the egg accumulationarea of said egg accumulation device, second conveyor means forconveying eggs through the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulationdevice, and third conveyor means for conveying eggs from the eggaccumulation area of the egg accumulation device; the third conveyormeans including a conveyor for conveying eggs to a first egg processingmachine and including a separate conveyor for conveying eggs to a secondegg processing machine; control means for controlling the first conveyormeans so that it may be operated at either a first speed or a secondspeed, lower than the first speed, or so that it may be halted; saidcontrol means including means for operating said first conveyor means atthe second speed and including means for halting the first conveyormeans; said means for operating said first conveyor means at the secondspeed being operable to change the speed of the first conveyor meansfrom the first speed to the second speed when the quantity of eggsaccumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation deviceincreases to a first approximate number of eggs; said means for halt ingthe first conveyor means being operable to halt the first conveyor meanswhen it is operating at the second speed and when the quantity of eggsaccumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation de viceincreases to a second approximate number of eggs greater in number thanthe first approximate number of eggs; said means for operating saidfirst conveyor means at the second speed including a first switch meansfor causing said first conveyor means to move at the'second speed whenthe first switch means is continuously actuated'for a firstpredetermined time interval;- said means for halting the first conveyormeans including a second switch means for causing said first conveyormeans to halt itsmovement when the second switch means is continuouslyactuated for a second predetermined time interval; a first switchactuator means for, actuating said first switch means, said first switchactuator means being disposed adjacent a first portion of the eggaccumulation area so as to be continuously actutable by an egg or eggsin the egg accumulation area; and a second switch actuator means foractuating said second switch means, said second switch actuator meansbeing disposed adjacent a second portion of the egg accumulation area soas to be continuously actuatable by an egg or eggs in the eggaccumulation area; said first switch actuator means including a pivotedpaddle disposed above said first portion of the egg accumulation areafor pivoted actuation by eggs moving through said egg accumulation areaand said second switch actuator'm'ea ns including a pivoted paddledisposed above said second portion of the egg accumulation area forpivoted actuation by eggs moving through said egg accumulation area.,

6. An apparatus for feeding eggs to a plurality of processing machinesthat operate simultaneously or individually, the apparatus comprising anegg accumulation device having a substantially horizontal surface areaupon which eggs can accumulate in a single layer without exerting undueforce upon adjacent eggs; a conveyor system including first conveyormeans for conveying eggs to the egg accumulation device, second conveyormeans for conveying eggs along the egg accumulation device from wherethey are introduced by the first conveyor to an opposite end of the eggaccumula tion device from which they are discharged and for arrangingthe accumulated eggs in a zone extending transversely of the eggaccumulation device adjacent the discharge end thereof; third conveyormeans including a plurality of conveyors, each conveyor adapted toconvey eggs from the discharge end of the egg accumulation device to aseparate processing machine; and control meansfor operating said firstconveyor means at a first speed when the quantity of eggs accumulated inthe zone is less than a first approximate number, at a second speedlower than the first speed when the quantity of eggs accumulated in thezone exceeds the first approximate number but is less than asecondapproximate number, and halting the first conveyor means when thequantity of eggs accumulated in the zone exceeds the second approximatenumber.

7. The apparatus described in claim 6 wherein said control meansincludes a first sensing means for sensing the presence-of eggs upon thehorizontal surface area of the egg accumulation device at a distancespaced longitudinally from the discharge end thereof to define a zoneextending transversely thereof in which a quantity of eggs representingthe first approximate number. could be snugly fitted in asinglejhorizontal layer, and a second sensing means for sensing thepresence of eggs upon the horizontal surface area of the eggaccumulation device at a distance spaced longitudinally from thedischarge end thereof to define a transversely extending zone in which aquantity of eggs representing the second approximate number could besnugly fitted in a single horizontal layer. v

- 8. The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said control meansincludes a first time delay means requiring said first sensing means tocontinuously sense the presence of eggs for a predetermined'timeinterval in excess of the normal time required for an eggconveyed by thesecond conveyor means to travel past the first sensing means before thecontrol means reduces the speed of the first c'onveyor means, and asecond time delay means requiring said second sensing means tocontinuously sense the presence of eggs for a preset period of time inexcess of the normal time required for an egg conveyed by the secondconveyor means to travel past the second sensing means before thecontrol means halts the first conveyor; means. U a: a: v a:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT N0.3,759,368

DATED September 18, 1973 INVENTOR(S) I BOYD W. ROSE; GEORGE W. THORNTONIt is certified that error appears in the ab0ve-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 2, "The" should be --the-.

Column 7, line 51, "bolts" should be --belts--.

Column 10, line 32 "sahft" should be --shaft--.

Column 11, line 38, -"spary" should be spray-..

Column 13, line 34, "by" should be -be--.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officerand Trademarks

1. An apparatus adapted to convey eggs to a plurality of egg processing machines, the apparatus comprising an egg accumulation device providing an egg accumulation area wherein eggs may accumulate; a conveyor system for transporting eggs from a source of eggs to and from the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device, the conveyor system including first conveyor means for conveying eggs to the egg accumulation area of said egg accumulation device, second conveyor means for conveying eggs through the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device, and third conveyor means for conveying eggs from the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device; the third conveyor means including a conveyor for conveying eggs to a first egg processing machine and including a separate conveyor for conveying eggs to a second egg processing machine; and control means for controlling the first conveyor means so that it may be operated at either a first speed or a second speed, lower than the first speed, or so that it may be halted; said control means including means for operating said first conveyor means at the second speed and including means for halting the first conveyor means; said means for operating said first conveyor means at the second speed being operable to change the speed of the first conveyor means for the first speed to the second speed wheN the quantity of eggs accumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device increases to a first approximate number of eggs; said means for halting the first conveyor means being operable to halt the first conveyor means when it is operating at the second speed and when the quantity of eggs accumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device increases to a second approximate number of eggs greater in number than the first approximate number of eggs; said egg accumulation device including an inlet to which eggs are conveyed by said first conveyor means and including outlets from which eggs are respectively conveyed by the conveyors of said third conveyor means; said second conveyor means moving said eggs through said egg accumulation device in a generally straight line path, said first conveyor means delivering eggs to said accumulation device at one end thereof in a direction transverse to the direction of said path, and said third conveyor means directing the eggs in paths which are generally in alignment with said straight line path.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said third conveyor means includes three conveyors extending in parallel and having their inlet ends separated by guide means which diverge toward the conveyors of said third conveyor means.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said second conveyor means comprises a series of spaced pusher members and a fixed deck over which eggs are pushed by said pusher members and wherein said conveyors of said third conveyor means comprised pocket roller conveyors.
 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said pocketed roller conveyors of said third conveyor means are operated to elevate said eggs from said egg accumulation device.
 5. An apparatus adapted to convey eggs to a plurality of egg processing machines, the apparatus comprising an egg accumulation device providing an egg accumulation area wherein eggs may accumulate; a conveyor system for transporting eggs from a source of eggs to and from the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device, the conveyor system including first conveyor means for conveying eggs to the egg accumulation area of said egg accumulation device, second conveyor means for conveying eggs through the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device, and third conveyor means for conveying eggs from the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device; the third conveyor means including a conveyor for conveying eggs to a first egg processing machine and including a separate conveyor for conveying eggs to a second egg processing machine; control means for controlling the first conveyor means so that it may be operated at either a first speed or a second speed, lower than the first speed, or so that it may be halted; said control means including means for operating said first conveyor means at the second speed and including means for halting the first conveyor means; said means for operating said first conveyor means at the second speed being operable to change the speed of the first conveyor means from the first speed to the second speed when the quantity of eggs accumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device increases to a first approximate number of eggs; said means for halting the first conveyor means being operable to halt the first conveyor means when it is operating at the second speed and when the quantity of eggs accumulated in the egg accumulation area of the egg accumulation device increases to a second approximate number of eggs greater in number than the first approximate number of eggs; said means for operating said first conveyor means at the second speed including a first switch means for causing said first conveyor means to move at the second speed when the first switch means is continuously actuated for a first predetermined time interval; said means for halting the first conveyor means including a second switch means for causing said first conveyor means to halt its movement when the second switch means is continuously actuated for a second predetermined time interval; a first switch actuator means for actuating said first switch means, said first switch actuator means being disposed adjacent a first portion of the egg accumulation area so as to be continuously actutable by an egg or eggs in the egg accumulation area; and a second switch actuator means for actuating said second switch means, said second switch actuator means being disposed adjacent a second portion of the egg accumulation area so as to be continuously actuatable by an egg or eggs in the egg accumulation area; said first switch actuator means including a pivoted paddle disposed above said first portion of the egg accumulation area for pivoted actuation by eggs moving through said egg accumulation area and said second switch actuator means including a pivoted paddle disposed above said second portion of the egg accumulation area for pivoted actuation by eggs moving through said egg accumulation area.
 6. An apparatus for feeding eggs to a plurality of processing machines that operate simultaneously or individually, the apparatus comprising an egg accumulation device having a substantially horizontal surface area upon which eggs can accumulate in a single layer without exerting undue force upon adjacent eggs; a conveyor system including first conveyor means for conveying eggs to the egg accumulation device, second conveyor means for conveying eggs along the egg accumulation device from where they are introduced by the first conveyor to an opposite end of the egg accumulation device from which they are discharged and for arranging the accumulated eggs in a zone extending transversely of the egg accumulation device adjacent the discharge end thereof; third conveyor means including a plurality of conveyors, each conveyor adapted to convey eggs from the discharge end of the egg accumulation device to a separate processing machine; and control means for operating said first conveyor means at a first speed when the quantity of eggs accumulated in the zone is less than a first approximate number, at a second speed lower than the first speed when the quantity of eggs accumulated in the zone exceeds the first approximate number but is less than a second approximate number, and halting the first conveyor means when the quantity of eggs accumulated in the zone exceeds the second approximate number.
 7. The apparatus described in claim 6 wherein said control means includes a first sensing means for sensing the presence of eggs upon the horizontal surface area of the egg accumulation device at a distance spaced longitudinally from the discharge end thereof to define a zone extending transversely thereof in which a quantity of eggs representing the first approximate number could be snugly fitted in a single horizontal layer, and a second sensing means for sensing the presence of eggs upon the horizontal surface area of the egg accumulation device at a distance spaced longitudinally from the discharge end thereof to define a transversely extending zone in which a quantity of eggs representing the second approximate number could be snugly fitted in a single horizontal layer.
 8. The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said control means includes a first time delay means requiring said first sensing means to continuously sense the presence of eggs for a predetermined time interval in excess of the normal time required for an egg conveyed by the second conveyor means to travel past the first sensing means before the control means reduces the speed of the first conveyor means, and a second time delay means requiring said second sensing means to continuously sense the presence of eggs for a preset period of time in excess of the normal time required for an egg conveyed by the second conveyor means to travel past the second sensing means before the control means halts the first conveyor means. 